7 Essential Pet Hair Hacks For Spring Shedding

PLUS: How to make my all-time favorite Easter side dish, a tribute to ‘70s swirl skirts, and more. PLUS: How to make my all-time favorite Easter side dish, a tribute to ‘70s swirl skirts, and more. April 16, 2022 [View Online]( Good morning! If it seems like your entire life is covered in pet hair these days, it isn’t your imagination. Both dogs and cats often make short work of shedding their winter coats this time of year, but the 7 pet hair hacks in Today’s Good Thing will help you survive spring shedding with your sanity intact. Also in today’s newsletter, I’m sharing the recipe for my favorite Easter side dish in a new Cooking segment. If your Easter menu could use another side, Utah’s favorite cheesy potato casserole won’t disappoint! Jillee TODAY'S GOOD THING 7 Essential Pet Hair Hacks For Spring Shedding [Photos of various pet hair hacks.]( If your pet is aggressively shedding their winter coat, use these pet hair hacks to control the fur frenzy. If it seems like pet hair is everywhere you turn lately, it probably is! Many dogs and cats go through a period of heavy shedding in the spring, as warmer temperatures signal to them that it’s time to get rid of their warm winter coat. Spring shedding can be particularly rough on people sensitive to pet dander, but even if you're not, the sheer volume of hair being shed can make cleaning it up feel like a full-time job. Luckily, there are some brilliant pet hair hacks that can make the job quicker and easier, and I’ve got 7 of them to share with you today. But before we get to that, let’s talk about prevention. While a certain amount of seasonal shedding is normal and nothing to be concerned about, these 2 simple tips can help prevent additional shedding from making the situation worse: • Tip #1: Check Your Pet’s Food. If your pet has been shedding heavily for months rather than weeks, ask your vet if your pet's current diet could be to blame. Dogs and cats who eat high quality foods with plenty of vitamins and minerals tend to shed less than those who eat lower quality foods. • Tip #2: Brush Your Pet Regularly. Another way to minimize shedding is to brush your pet regularly—at least once a week, or more during periods of heavy shedding. Brushing regularly with a deshedding brush that reaches the undercoat can help remove loose hair, promote circulation, and keep their skin healthy. You can check out the full list of essential pet hair hacks by following the link below. [7 Essential Pet Hair Hacks For Spring Shedding ➜]( Related • [10 Surprising Ways Pets Are Good For You]( • [9 Mistakes You Need To Avoid If You Have Pets]( ⚡️QUICK TIPS⚡️ • Being able to effortlessly produce perfect, medium-rare steaks is but one of many advantages to sous vide cooking. [Read more ➜]( • If dark or colored mineral deposits are plaguing your toilet bowl, try these fixes that address the root of the problem. [Read more ➜]( • Most people use half as much sunscreen as they should—find out if that's you, and if you're making 6 other sunscreen mistakes. [Read more ➜]( COOKING “Funeral Potatoes,” My Favorite Easter Side Dish [Photos of funeral potatoes in a casserole dish and on a plate.]( This cheesy potato casserole is both a state treasure and an ideal companion to Easter ham. I’ve been daydreaming about Easter dinner all week long! More often than not we have a honey-baked ham, a choice that has been the subject of some debate in recent years. But the real star of the feast is a side dish whose presence on our Easter table is never in question: “funeral potatoes”. This cheesy potato casserole (think potatoes au gratin) is frequently served at gatherings of all kinds here in Utah, including funerals. But it's especially popular to make funeral potatoes as an Easter side dish, to the point where stores often sell out of hash browns over Easter weekend. (I learned that lesson the hard way!) Here’s how to make it: Melt 1/2 cup of butter in a pot on your stovetop, then add a can (about 10.5 ounces) of cream of chicken soup, 2 cups of sour cream, 2 cups of grated cheddar cheese, and 1/3 cup of finely chopped green onions. Stir and cook the mixture over medium-low heat until the cheese has melted, then remove from heat. Spread 2 bags (40 ounces) of refrigerated shredded hash browns into an even layer at the bottom of a greased 9x13″ baking dish. Pour the creamy cheese mixture over the top of the potatoes in an even layer. In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of melted butter with 1 cup of crushed cornflakes, then distribute them over the top of the potatoes. Bake the casserole at 325°F for 45 minutes, or until the top is golden-brown and the potatoes are hot and bubbly. Allow the potatoes to cool and set up for at least 15 minutes before serving. [See the full recipe ➜]( UNUSUAL USES 3 Of The Best Household Uses For Diatomaceous Earth [A photo of a bag of diatomaceous earth.]( Who knew the fossilized remains of phytoplankton could be so useful around the house? 1. Pest Control. One of the most common uses for diatomaceous earth (DE) is for pest control. DE compromises the waxy coating on insects’ exoskeletons, causing them to dry out and die. To control pests in your home, sprinkle a bit of DE into cracks, corners, or window sills where you’ve spotted insect activity. 2. Compost Maintenance. If you have a composting bin or a compost pile, then I probably don’t have to tell you that odors and pest activity can be common issues with compost. Luckily for us, mixing some DE into your compost every once in a while can help keep both odors and pests at bay. 3. Garbage Deodorizer. Deodorize your garbage can (or your refrigerator, for that matter) by placing a small dish of DE inside. It’s not only great for absorbing unpleasant odors, but it will also help keep insects out too. Replace the DE every 1-2 weeks to keep it fresh and effective. JILLEE'S PICK The Beautiful Marriage Of “Japandi” Design [A photo of a living room with ]( Photo: Ward 5 Design / [ward5design.com]( I've written about my love for Scandinavian design a couple times now in this segment, so I couldn’t wait to tell you about a new twist on Scandi style that caught my eye recently. "Japandi" design, as you can probably guess from its name, is a style that features design elements from both Scandinavia and Japan. As they're located on opposite sides of the Eurasian landmass, it would be easy to assume the Scandinavian countries and Japan don't have a lot in common. But in reality, there are several commonalities in the design styles of these regions that makes them easy to blend together. Two things that are central to both Scandi and Japanese design are airy simplicity (or minimalism) and an emphasis on natural materials. Where Japanese design tends to be sleek and Scandi design more rustic, combining the two strikes a beautiful balance between coziness and serenity, and comfort and sophistication. What I love most about Japandi design is that it sounds a bit strange, but in practice it just works. What design trends have been catching your attention recently? Hit “reply” and let me know! REMEMBER WHEN Swirl Skirts [Vintage illustrations of women wearing swirl skirts.]( Normally, if you were torn between wearing a long denim skirt or a long printed skirt, you would have to choose one or the other. But that wasn't so back in the ‘70s, when you could have your cake and eat it too by wearing one of the iconic styles of the era: the swirl skirt. Swirl skirts were made from bias-cut strips of alternating fabric, and they were one of my very favorite styles back in the day. They’re very emblematic of the boho style that hippies were famous for, so it’s no wonder that swirl skirts have made a comeback recently in modern music festival fashion. I even remember sewing my own maxi swirl skirt when I was a teenager—with my mom’s help with the sewing portion—and it didn’t turn out too badly! I wish I still had it. Did you wear these psychedelic skirts back in the day? Hit “reply” and let me know! A FEW MORE THINGS... Let’s Hear It For Husbands: It’s Husband Appreciation Day, and as someone quite partial to her own, this is a cause I can get behind. While many husbands get a special day on Father's Day, I'm glad to know there's a day when husbands who aren't fathers can get the recognition they deserve too. Let your husband know you appreciate him today (and don’t worry—Wife Appreciation Day will be here in September!) Breakfast Bonanza: It’s also National Eggs Benedict Day, a celebration of one of my favorite breakfast/brunch dishes. [Poached eggs]( and hollandaise make a perfect pair, so I’m grateful to the person who first put both on an English muffin. (While no fewer than 3 different people claim to be this dish’s originator, [we at least know]( it’s an American creation from the late 1800s.) 🤔 Wordle: [Solve today's 5-letter word](. What did you think of today's email? [Not good]( | [Just okay]( | [Loved it!]( 🏠[Visit the By Jillee Shop]( 🤗 [Join OGT Free]( Let's connect! [facebook]( [instagram]( [pinterest]( [youtube]( If you have thoughts, comments, questions or a tip or trick you'd like to share, I'd love to hear from you! My inbox is always open, so just hit "reply" and let me know what's on your mind. See you tomorrow! Sending you bright ideas and simple solutions to help you create a home and life you love. My mailing address is: One Good Thing by Jillee 841 S. Main St. Heber City, UT 84032 If you're not happy please reply to this email to tell me why. 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